IARF Newsletter: May 2026
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International Association
for Religious Freedom
Serving liberal religious communities and individuals since 1900
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Welcoming Our New Member Group: BEYOND.
We are very glad to welcome BEYOND. The European Network for Religious Progressives as a new member group of the IARF. Our relationship with BEYOND. began when their representatives participated in our 2025 European Conference in Frankfurt, and we are delighted to now have them formally join our international community.
BEYOND. brings together progressive people from different religious and spiritual traditions with a shared commitment to peace, human rights, social justice, and mutual respect. Their work is both pan-European and deeply grounded in lived relationships, creating space for people to learn from one another across differences while remaining rooted in their own traditions.
What comes through clearly in their vision is a strong and practical sense of inclusion. BEYOND. speaks openly about solidarity, the common good, and the equal dignity of all people, including queer people and people of all genders. Their hope of building an interfaith centre in Frankfurt reflects that spirit well: not just dialogue in theory, but a real place of encounter, learning, and community.
We encourage you to connect with them! IARF Network users can visit the member directory and filter by "BEYOND." to find individuals from the group, or view the profiles of network leaders Rev. Peter Dennebaum and Cantor Leah Frey-Rabine.
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The Japan Study Tour 2026 is Underway
The IARF Japan Study Tour 2026 has begun, and one of its most valuable features is the balance between visiting important places and spending real time with member communities. The programme began in Tokyo with a visit to Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters, where participants met with IALRW Japan and the IARF Japan Chapter for exchange, conversation, and shared meals.
As the tour continues, the group is meeting Hiroshima members and visiting communities and institutions including Ittoen, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, Mutsumi-kai, and the Konko Church of Izuo. Along the way, participants are joining services and acts of worship, taking part in celebrations and fellowship, and learning directly from the people who sustain IARF’s work in Japan.
The tour also includes visits to places that help give wider context to these encounters: Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, major sites in Kyoto, Shitenno-ji in Osaka, and Koyasan. These visits are part of the IARF programme, helping participants understand the religious, historical, and cultural settings in which our member communities live and work.
This year, we are also using a new interactive mapping tool integrated with the IARF Network to plan and document our study tours, as well as the pre-conference and pre-congress tours that IARF organises regularly. Through it, both the itinerary and participants’ stories can be shared in one place. All IARF members can view the map to follow the current route, and learn more about the history and work of our member communities in Japan.
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Stay Connected: The IARF Network & App
We are thrilled to be using our new app integrated with the IARF Network to plan and document our ongoing study tours. If you haven't yet, we highly encourage you to register and download the app to your smartphone! It provides seamless access to our growing library (iarf.net/library), the E-Learning platform, interactive tour maps, member directory, and active group discussions.
You can also sign up for the IARF Digest to receive a convenient summary of network posts and activities sent straight to your email every day, every 3 days, or weekly.
Guide to install the App
Sign up for the Digest
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Upcoming Meetings & E-Learning Courses
Note on Timezones: Times below are shown in UTC or CEST where indicated. When you view these events on the E-Learning Platform, times will automatically convert to your local timezone.
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TODAY: 9 May 2026
Time: 14:00 UTC
Dr. Kurt Bangert concludes his insightful series on the historical-critical method. This final session will explore a variety of hermeneutical perspectives on interpreting sacred texts. (Previous sessions are available as recordings). Everyone is welcome.
Join the Zoom Meeting
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17 May 2026
Time: 19:30 CEST | Online (Zoom)
Join EME Co-Chairs Johannes Spindler and Pascal Schilling for an update from the Board, review of reporting procedures across key working areas (UN, Gender Equality Advocacy, Council of Europe), and an open space for members to raise issues and shape the future of our collaborative work.
Join the Zoom Meeting
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Starts 18 May 2026
Time: 17:00 UTC (19:00 CEST)
Organised by our new member group BEYOND., this monthly series explores the topic of freedom. Following an opening session on the Jewish perspective, the May 18th meeting will delve into the concept of freedom from a Christian perspective. (Past recordings are available here).
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31 May 2026
Times: 01:00 UTC & 10:00 UTC (Repeated session)
Rev. Michinori Maruta explores the Third and Fourth Noble Truths: the possibility of Nirvana (the cessation of craving and suffering) and the practical framework of the Noble Eightfold Path—a Middle Way leading toward lasting liberation and awakening.
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Coming in August
Instructor: Pascal Schilling
Beginning August 23rd, this four-part lecture series will explore the history of Free Religion in Germany—a movement born from the Enlightenment that has profoundly shaped global liberal religious movements, including the IARF.
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Course Wrap-up & Partner Event Recap
Consciousness: Dr. Mark Reimers' insightful course has now concluded. It has been a truly great experience, and all session recordings and course readings remain available on our E-Learning platform. We hope to collaborate with Mark again in the future!
Webinar Recap - The Dangers of Instrumentalisation: In late April, we were proud to support our partner group at the Council of Europe (NIRIC) in organising a vital webinar on how politics and religion manipulate one another, threatening social cohesion. You can learn more about NIRIC's events and initiatives on their website.
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IARF News Digest
Curated stories from the world of religious freedom and our member groups.
A quick note on languages: We provide English summaries for all our digest items below, but some of the full articles are originally published in other languages. If you'd like to read the source pieces, most modern web browsers make this very simple. Just right-click (or long-press on a mobile device) on the article page and select the built-in translation option to read it comfortably in English.
Three Things to Know About the Anti-Christian Bias Task Force
Interfaith Alliance: This article argues that the current administration’s anti-Christian bias task force is less about protecting religious freedom than advancing Christian nationalist politics, highlighting the misuse of religion to attack LGBTQ people and reproductive rights.
The Talibé Issue in Senegal: A Call for Urgent Collective Action
Berkley Center: This article calls attention to the abuse and forced begging faced by many talibé children in Senegal’s Quranic school system. Progress will require enforcement of child-protection laws, education reform, and deep collaboration with religious leaders.
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